Rotary Club of Milwaukee Tuesday Speaker Series

Yesterday, Adam Procell, Director of Milwaukee's Office of Community Wellness and Safety, joined us for a moderated, in-depth conversation about his personal journey, his leadership in building Milwaukee's collaborative reentry ecosystem, and his vision for the future of this work in our city. The discussion highlighted the systems-level approach he is advancing to strengthen community safety, coo...

This week in Memorial Hall Rotarians heard from Dr. Kimo Ah Yun, President of Marquette University, as he shared details about the momentum Marquette is experiencing and discussed the challenges facing higher education both locally and nationally.

In honor of Veterans Day, Rotarians welcomed Janice Bell and Ben Hendershot from the Veterans Community Project to share their innovative approach to ending veteran homelessness. They also highlighted plans for VCP's new Milwaukee campus, which will feature 40 tiny homes and onsite services on a 7-acre site along North 60th Street.

Yesterday, Chris Corkery, Founder and CEO of Hundred Acre, joined us to share the story of his state-of-the-art indoor hydroponic farm in Milwaukee, where fresh produce grows year-round—without soil, pesticides, and using 95% less water than traditional farms. Chris also highlighted  how Hundred Acre's vertical farming technology creates "endless summer" conditions to produce five times more food...

This week in Memorial Hall, we marked the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations with an address by Jack Leslie, a renowned communications strategist and international development leader. Jack called for rebuilding trust and creating a new global framework that empowers local leadership and partnerships to better address today's challenge around the world.

This week in Memorial Hall, we were honored to welcome Serhiy Koledov, the Consul General of Ukraine in Chicago. The Consul General spoke about the current situation in Ukraine, sharing insights on the nation's economic recovery and the growing opportunities for investment in the country.

This week's program featured Rotarians Ian Abston, Maurice Thomas, and Joe Poeschl, who shared how the next generation of Milwaukeeans is intentionally building networks that strengthen both personal and community growth. They also shared inspiring stories of connection and collaboration through Forward 48, the region's premier leadership development program.

This week in Memorial Hall, Brian Thompson, UW -Milwaukee's Chief Innovation & Partnership Officer, shared how their Lubar Entrepreneurship Center empowers students and community leaders to think like entrepreneurs—spotting opportunities, testing bold ideas, and turning them into real solutions.

This week in Memorial Hall, Dr. Brenda Cassellius reflected on her first six months as Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools . She outlined progress on lead paint stabilization, enhancements to financial reporting, and the rollo

Yesterday in Memorial Hall, Chef Paul Bartolotta, Co-Owner of the Bartolotta Restaurants, shared personal stories about his family and his roots in Milwaukee. He also reflected on the history of the Bartolotta Restaurants and shared how the pandemic reshaped the hospitality industry, including the ways he navigated those challenges.

On Tuesday, Rotarians heard from Michael Antonelli, Market Strategist for Baird Private Wealth Management, on one of today's most talked-about topics- cryptocurrency. Michael offered a refresher on what crypto is, how it's used, and where it came from, while also exploring the investment implications and the current state of the industry.

This week in Memorial Hall, Tracy Johnson, the President and CEO of the Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin, Jim Barry, President of the Barry Company, and Matt Hunter, CEO of Hunter Real Estate shared their perspectives on the commercial real estate market in Southeast Wisconsin. They discussed the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry, what's driving demand, and how shifting...

This week in Memorial Hall Dr. John Raymond, President & CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin shared how stable research funding and strong public private partnerships are so important for advancing health and innovation. He also explained how Milwaukee's research enterprise drives economic growth, regional development, and better health outcomes for all.

Yesterday, Vincent Lyles of Milwaukee Succeeds and Jeff Pertl, Wisconsin Secretary of Children and Families discussed how new state funding for childcare came to be and its impact on families and providers across Wisconsin. They also explored what the future may hold once this temporary investment concludes next year.

This week in Memorial Hall, Rotarians heard from Paul Verdu, Managing Director for Asahi Beer USA, who shared insights on the rapidly evolving beverage-alcohol industry. Paul also discussed how shifting consumer preferences and emerging trends are driving innovation and shaping Asahi's approach to growth.

Milwaukee stands at a turning point, with new opportunities on the horizon that demand fresh thinking. This week in Memorial Hall, Rebecca Gries, Executive Director of the Milwaukee 7 Regional Partnership (M7), explored how the region can build a more resilient and prosperous future by embracing change.

On Tuesday, Alex Lasry, CEO of the New York/New Jersey Host Committee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup shared details on the NY/NJ region's role as the centerpiece of the tournament's U.S. footprint. Alex covered how the region is preparing to host eight matches, including the Final Match, and highlighted the large-scale, cross-region coordination underway to deliver 39 days of unparalleled excitement...

This week, Rotarians heard from fellow member Dr. Anthony Cruz, President of Milwaukee Area Technical College Dr. Cruz reflected on his first year as President of MATC, and provided  insights on the educational needs of the community, MATC's new strategic plan, and new initiatives that will lead to new bold targets in student success, caring culture, and community trust.

This week in Memorial Hall, we toasted outgoing President Saj Thachenkary and welcomed new Club President Kent Lovern.

This week at Rotary, we honored Beth Weirick as our 2025 Rotary Person of the Year for her decades of leadership, compassion, and vision that has transformed Milwaukee. A lifelong Milwaukeean, Beth Weirick has been committed to the city since her first independent bus ride downtown to see a concert at the MECCA. Hired in 1998 to lead the newly formed Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, Beth brought exper...

This Tuesday, members heard from Dale Schultz, former Republican majority leader of the state senate, and Rotarian John Franke explain how fusion voting works and how it can provide moderate voters with a constructive way to reduce the power presently held by the extremes within the two major political parties. The program was moderated by the Lubar Center's Craig Gilbert.

This week in Memorial Hall, members heard from fellow Rotarian and Chancellor Mark Mone who has led the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee for 11 years. Mark reflected on the unprecedented headwinds during his tenure and the relationships and established groundbreaking collaborations that have benefited UWM, its students, our city and beyond.

This week in Memorial Hall, Mark Murphy spoke to the Rotary Club of Milwaukee about building a championship organization during his 17 years as the President and CEO of the Green Bay Packers. Mark also shared his background and influences and the Packer's impact on the community through the Green Bay Packers Foundation, Give BIG, and Titletown.

On May 6th, Deep Thought, the 44 foot long boat stranded in Lake Michigan for the past several months, was pulled from the water by Jeff Piller and his towing company, All City. This week at Rotarians heard from Jeff about the planning and execution of the operation that removed the 100,000 pound boat and captivated the attention of Milwaukee.

At this year's Armed Forces Week program, Rotarians heard from U.S. Navy Captain Lena Kaman, Commander of Navy Reserve Region Readiness and Mobilization Command Fort Worth. A native of Shawano, Wisconsin, and a career Naval Aviator with over 4,200 flight hours, Kaman has served in combat operations, led aviation squadrons, and held senior staff roles in Washington, D.C before assuming command of R...